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A MEDLEY OF FICTION 

AND OTHER RHYMES 



WALTER BROOKE HUNTER 



I 



A Medle:g of Fiction 

AND OTHER RHYMES 



By 
WALTER BROOKE HUNTER 
OF MARYLAND 



First Edition. 



Hyattrvillb, Md. 

The Keystone Printing Company 

1921 



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Copyright, 1921, , \M^^ 
By Walter Brooke Hunter ^ 0\i^ 



A MEDLEY OF FICTION 
AND OTHER RHYMES 

Price, 30 Cents. 



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APR127I 



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« I 



A MEDLEY OF FICTION. 



Turty consid'able shuk up like.*' — Edward Eggleston. 



"Aurora Floyd," "In Silk Attire," 

Went to see "Her Dearest Foe," 
"Who" was "In A Winter City" 

With "Dick Sand" and "Ivanhoe." 
"David Copperfield," "One Summer," 

Courted "Countess Isabel," 
Whom "The Disowned" "Michael Strogoff" 

Loved " 'Not Wisely, But Too Well.' " 

"Robert Elsmere," o'er "The Prairie," 

Chased "The Golden Butterfly," 
While "Dick's Sweetheart," "Lucy Crofton," 

Wrote "A Leitter" to "The Spy." 
"Felix Holt" and "Denis Duval" 

"Dead Men's Shoes," in "Hard Times" wore, 
And with "Other People's Money" 

"Uncle Silas" help'd the poor. 

"In The Phantom Ship" "The Caxtons" 

For "The Phantom City" sail'd. 
While "The Pilot," "Henry Esmond," 

Tried to see "The Light That Failed." 
"Cousin Henry," "Our Professor," 

"Lady Audley's Secret" knew, 
And vv^ithin "The Tower of London" 

Toid it to "The Wandering Jew." 

(3) 



"Madcap Violet" held 'The Moons'tone" 

In "The Hollow of Her Hand," 
While "Her Only Brother/' "Gerald," 

Danced upon the "Ropes of Sand." 
"Martin Chuzzlewit," "The Talker," 

Ask'd "The Boss" for "Elbow Room," 
And "The Clansman," "In The Red Lane," 

Saw "A Dixie Rose In Bloom." 

"Eric Brighteyes," near "Our Village," 

Slew "The Lion^s Whelp" at "Dawn," 
While "The Smuggler," "Richard Carvel," 

Hid behind "The Marble Faun." 
On "The Royal Road" "The Traitor" 

Met "King Arthur" "Face To Face" 
And "The Duchess" sold to "Freckles" . 

"Buttons" in "The Market Place." 

"Eben Holden," "Night And Morning," 
Wore "The Helmet of Navarre," 

While "A Daughter of The People" 
Carried on "A Woman's War." 

"Adam Bede," at "One And T^venty," 
Call'd himself "The Little Earl," 

And his "Second Cousin Sarah" 
Was "A Jewel of A Girl." 

"Gordon Keith," from "Treasure Island," 

Saw "The Water-Babies" swim. 
While "The Pirate," "Henry Esmond," 

Shook "The Fighting Blade" at him. 
"Lady Grace," "A Noble Woman," 

Parted with "The Coral Pin," 
When "She" heard "Her Lord And Master 

Suffered "For Another's Sin." 



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**Uncle Jack'' and '^Willy Reilly'' 

'White Lies" told "For Maimie's Sake," 
But they "Found Out," "Six Year's Later," 

They had made "A Great Mistake." 
"Caleb Field," "The Trumpet-Major," 

O'er his "Fallen Fortunes" sigh'd, 
And "His First Love," "Christie Johnstone," 

Of "A Golden Sorrow" died. 

"Pollyanna" and "The Goose Girl" 

Held "The Bars of Iron" up. 
In "The Cabin," while "The Squaw-Man" 

Wash'd "The Inside of The Cup." 
"Lorna Doone" and "David Harum" 

Talk'd about "The Coming Race," 
While "The Old Judge," "Barry Lyndon,'; 

Tried "A Celebrated Case." 



"Lady Jane," of "Windsor Castle," 

For "Her Gentle Deeds" was known. 
And "The Second Wife" of "Basil" 

Loved him "For Himself Alone." 
"Mother Molly," "At The Seaside," 

Heard "A Shocking Story" told. 
That "The Vulture-Maiden," "Nellie," 

Had "The Emperor's Picture^' sold. 

"Janice Meredith" and "Harold" 

"Doc!tor Cupid" did resist, 
While "The Black Dwarf," from the "Pwed Rock," 

View'd "The People of The Mist." 
"Beauty's Daughters," "Jess and Hilda," 

Cast their "Shadows on The Snow," 
And "Virginia of Virginia" 

Watch'd "The Guilty River" ^ow. 



''Bessie Rane" ''Beside The River," 

Sat upon "The Goblin Rock," 
When "The Comet of A Season" 

Gave the "North And South" a shock. 
"Baron Montez" "Won By Waiting," 

"Daisy Darrell," "Fair to See," 
And "The Twin Lieutenanfts" captured 

"Captain Paul" with Soldiers Three. 

From "The Broken Bell" "My Robin" 

To "The Tree of Knowledge" flew. 
While 'The Whispering Woman," "Nancy," 

Bade "The Rebel Chief" adieu. 
"Digby Grand" and "Mrs. Geoffrey," 

Bow'd before "The Golden Calf," 
When "The Sisters" of "The Emperor" 

Made "The Dynamiter" laugh. 

"Randolph Gordon" heard, "One May Day," 

"Master Humphrey's Clock" strike four. 
While "The Scottish Chiefs" were talking 

With "The Bride of Lammermoor." 
"Mary Barton," "Peter Simple," 

On "The Field of Ice" "Found Dead," 
"Griffith Gaunt" and "Brother Jacob" 

In "The Pickwick Papers" read. 

"Lord Lynne's Choice" is "Katie Stewart," 

And they'll soon be "Man And Wife," 
For "The Russian Gypsy," "Vixen," 

Said they wed "For Love And Life." 
"Charles O'Malley," in a "Bleak Bouse," 

Saw "The Ghost of Charlotte Cray," 
And "The Count of Monte Cristo" 

Threw "The Witch's Head'' away. 



"At The Altar" "They Were Married," 

"Trilby" and "The Happy Boy," 
But "The Silence of Dean Maitland" 

Did "A Noble Life" destroy. 
"Doctor Thorne," "A Woman Hater," 

Saw "A Pair of Blue Eyes" shine. 
And "The Queen's Cadet," at "Sunrise," 

Met "The Pilgrims of "The Rhine." 

In "The House of Seven Gables" 

"Alice" quarrePd with "Ben-Hur." 
While "The Christian" read "My Novel" 

To "The Little Minister." 
"Donald Grant," "A Prince of Darkness," 

Showed "The Cloven-Foot" too soon. 
When the "Publicans And Sinners" 

"Lured Away" "The Octoroon." 

" 'Good-bye, Sweetheart,' 'Wooed And Married,' 

'I Have Lived And Loved' in vain !" 
To "The Child Wife" of "The Deemster" 

Whisper'd "Allan Quartermain." 
"Under Two Flags" stood "The Sun-Maid," 

Waiting for "Macleod of Dare," 
For "The Gypsy Queen" had told her 

That "He" was "The Wandering Heir." 

"Dead Sea Fruit" was "Charlotte Temple" 

Eating at the "Peep O'Day," 
When "The Surgeon's Daughter," "Thelma," 

Kiss'd, in "Friendship," "Robin Gray." 
"Handy Andy," "Georgie's Wooer," 

Wander'd on "Tom Tiddler's Ground," 
Where "The King's Own" "Fellow Townsmen" 

Playing "Hide and Seek" were found. 

Eait Hyattsville, Md., March 5, 1921. 



AN ENIGMA. 



'Tis in streams, and in lakes, and in rivers, and seas, 

It is found in the midst of the forest with ease. 

Yet 'tis more in the heaven than 'tis in the earth,* 

And the voices of angels acknowledge its worth. 

It comes in the dews, and is seen in the showers. 

And lies in the gardens, and dwells with the flowers. 

Though it starts in our eyes, and it mingles with tears, 

We sound i't in laughter till it riligs in our ears. 

It appears in our dreams, and it rests in our hearts. 

And in sickness and trouble it never departs. 

We read it in Bibles, we repeat it in creeds. 

But we speak it in anger, and show it in deeds. 

It is granted to poets who write it in rhymes. 

And 'tis part of our virtues, and part of our crimes. 

Our mothers and fathers confess it in prayer, 

In secret, with tenderness, sadness and care. 

With our pleasures and hopes it remains, and will prove 

To be faithful in friendship and consJtant in love. 

It belongs to the righteous, the noble and brave. 

And begins our existence, but ends in the grave. 



Washington, D. C, 1882. 



A LOVER S GOOD-NIGHT. 



Good-night, good-night, good-night, my dear! 

Tve long enough remained, 
For if thy father should appear, 
And find me spooning with thee here, 

The dog would be unchain'd. 
Good-night, good-nigM, good-night, I say, 
And kiss me, for I cannot stay ! 

Good-night, good-night, good-night, my pet! 

I fain would linger hfere. 
But though thy father slumbers yet. 
He may awake, and on me set 

The savage dog, I fear. 
Good-night, good-night good-night, I say, 
And kiss me, for 'twill soton be day ! 

Good-night, good-night, good-night, my love! 

I hate to go from thee; 
Bult there's a gleaming light above, 
I hear thy father's footsteps move — 

The dog will soon be free. 
Good-night, good-night, good-night, I say. 
But keep that awful dog away ! 

fliirhlands, Md., 1890. 



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SINGLE-TAX. 



Do you believe in single4ax? 

The yioung man asked the maid ; 
*'Yes, single men should pay a tax/* 
The charming creature said. 



Hyattsville Md., 1893. 



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HYATTSVILLE IN THE PAST. 



This little town has doctors four, 
And dudes who numb!er half a score; 
Mechanics, Masons — men of mind — 
And maidens, lovely and refined. 
It has a weekly paper, bright. 
And youths who make a noise at nigM ; 
Reporters who relate the news, 
And humorists who cure the blues ; 
A Bowery where stale yarns are spun, 
And curious things are 'said and done. 
It also has its cranks and bards, 
And men expert in playing cards ; 
Commissioners who disagree. 
And lamps whose lighits we seldom s)ee. 
Hurrah ! no town beneath the sky 
With noted Hyattsville can vie. 



Hyattsville, Md., 1893. 



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THE OLD WOODEN BRIDGES. 



When the ice has thaw'd away 
Will the wooden bridges stay? 
Or will the Eastern Branch deliver 
Their floating fragments to the river? 



Hyattsville Md., 1893. 



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THE UNITED STATES IN A MILLION YEARS. 



"The United States will be wash'd away 
In a million years," the Surveyors say — 
The glorious land of the brave and the free 
Will Ithen be lost in the depths of the sea. 

They claim that the rivers surely will hide, 
In those many years in the ocean wide, 
The country we love, by wearing the sand, 
Rock, gravel and soil away from the land. 

Oh! we laugh when these prophets strain their 

eyes 
To pry into ten thousand centuries ; 
For the distant future is dim and vast, 
And the world must come to an end at last. 

But if this planet then in space should glow, 
And water should over our nation flow, 
Some men would be left from the bone-dry set 
To shout from high places: *'Our country is wet!" 

E'smt Hyattsville, Md., January 15, 1921. 



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THE ALPHABET OF HYATTSVILLE. 



A — is for Armory, a building that's new ; 

B — is for Banks, in the town there are two. 

C— is for Churches, for people ito fill ; 

D — is for Doctors, who cure every ill. 

E — is for Easy whose street can be found ; 

F — is the Company who'se deeds are renown'd. 

G — is for Genius, that's known far and wide; 

H — is for Homes, where the happy reside. 

I — is for Independent, which gives us the news; 

J — is for Jokers, whose jokes don't amuse. 

K — is for Keystone, where printing is done; 

L — is for Lawyers, who've big cases won. 

M — is for Masons, of many degrees ; 

N — is for Notaries, to whom we pay fees. 

O — is for Odd Fellows, whose membership grows ; 

P — is for Prizes, awarded at shows. 

Q — is for Questions, tha^t puzzle some men ; 

R — is for Riches, not gain'd by the pen. 

S — is for Schools, which improve all the time ; 

T — is for Taxes, whose figures can climb. 

U — is for Useful, the Fire Fighters here ; 

V — is for Veterans, who'll ever be dear. 

W — is for Women, with ballots to cast; 

X — is for Something, that cannot long last. 

Y — is for Youth, 'that is fleeting, we know; 

2 — is for Zeal, which the Business Men show. 

East Hyattsville, Md., March 1, 1921. 



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NOTES. 



A MEDLEY OF FICTION. 



This piece was first published in "The Arm Chair,'* in 
1880, under the title of 'The Novels in Rhyme," and con- 
sisted of five verses. A few years later it was lengthened to 
eight verses, and appeared in ''The Waverley Magazine," 
the titk being changed bo "A Novel Medley." 

With some additional verses, and a few necessary changes 
it was read by the Author before "The Tuesday Club,'' of 
Hyattsville, Md., in 1894. 

Another revision was afterwards made, and other verses 
were added thereto, in order to mention the names of more 
modern stories, bu^ it retained the title of "A Novel Med- 
ley." It then consisted of sixteen verses, and appeared in 
"Thie Prince George's Enquirer" in 1902, with a compli- 
mentary notice by the Editor. 

The last coat of literary varnish was recently applied, and 
this humble rhyme of my early years, now grown to nine- 
teen verses, under the more appropriate title of "A Med- 
ley of Fiction" is placed before the public in this li/ttle pam- 
phlet. 



THE UNITED STATES IN A MILLION YEARS. 



Suggested by reading the following special published in 
"The Baltimore Sun," Monday morning, January 3, 1921: 

"The United States is slowly but surely being washed 
away. An average of 95 tons of soft soil, pebbles and loose 
rock is being carried away by the rivers into the ocean 



16 

every year from every square mile of the country, according 
to the Geological Survey. The surface of the United States 
covers 3,088,500 square miles, and therefore 203,407,500 
tons are being washed away yearly. For the benefit of 
those who like to have something to worry about, ilt may be 
stated that the United States will be washed into the ocean 
in about 1,000,000 years." 



THE ALPHABET OF HYATTSVILLE. 



'*G — is for Genius, that's known far and wide." — Line 7. 

The Genius of Dr. J. Harris Rogers, the inveritor of the 
underground wireless and underseas methods of communi- 
cation. 



